þÿ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="en-us"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=unicodeFFFE"> <title>Section Home&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Program O</title> <style> <!-- table.MsoTableGrid {border:1.0pt solid windowtext; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; } --> </style> <meta name="Microsoft Border" content="b, default"> </head> <body background="images/ribbon.gif" style="background-attachment: fixed"><!--msnavigation--><table dir="ltr" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><!--msnavigation--><td valign="top"> <div align="center"> <table border="0" width="800" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="table1"> <tr> <td> &nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <img border="0" src="images/mammobanner.jpg" width="796" height="141"></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p align="center">&nbsp;<p align="center"><b> <a target="_self" href="http://ncradiation.net/"> <font color="#3333FF">Section Home</font></a><font color="#3333FF">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; </font> <a target="_self" href="progoverview.htm"> <font color="#3333FF">Program Overview</font></a><font color="#3333FF">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; </font> <a target="_self" href="mammcontacts.htm"><font color="#3333FF">Mammography Contacts</font></a><font color="#3333FF">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; </font> <a target="_self" href="documents/ncac.rules.pdf"> <font color="#3333FF">NC Regulations</font></a><font color="#3333FF">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; </font> <a target="_self" href="http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/MammographyQualityStandardsActandProgram/default.htm"> <font color="#3333FF">MQSA Regulations</font></a></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="47"> <p align="center">&nbsp;</p> <p align="center"><u><b><font size="5" color="#000080"> Re-establishing Operating Levels</font></b></u></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="4">PROCESSOR</font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The ACR manual has listed a number of circumstances under which it may be appropriate to re-establish the processor QC operating levels.&nbsp; These events include:&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings">§</span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">When a film manufacturer makes a change to a film currently in use and recommends that the processor QC&nbsp; program be re-established;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings">§</span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">A change in film volume;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings">§</span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">A change of brand or types of chemicals used;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings">§</span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">A change in film brand or type;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings">§</span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">A change in replenishment rates; </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings">§</span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">A change in development time (e.g., going from extended to standard cycle);</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings">§</span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">A change in the settings on a specific gravity automixer;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings">§</span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Using a different sensitometer or densitometer;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings">§</span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">A change in film processor;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:90.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt"> <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings">§</span><span style="font-size: 7.0pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Running out of film thus preventing a crossover from being done correctly.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Keep in mind that changing the chemistry as part of routine preventative maintenance is NOT justification for changing the QC operating levels.&nbsp; </span></b> <span style="font-size: 12.0pt">The reason for re-establishing the operating levels must be noted in the remarks section of the QC chart.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><font color="#FF0000">If you change your processing operating levels, then you should also evaluate your phantom aims.&nbsp; If you have a valid reason to re-establish processing operating levels, then you also have a valid reason to re-establish phantom aims if necessary.</font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Refer to the section on <a target="_self" href="phantomaims.htm">Resetting Phantom Aims</a></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p align="center">&nbsp;</p> <p align="center"><b><font color="#3333FF" size="4"> <a target="_self" href="index.htm">Mammography Home</a></font></b></td> </tr> </table> </div> <!--msnavigation--></td></tr><!--msnavigation--></table><!--msnavigation--><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td></tr><!--msnavigation--></table></body> </html>